In the United States, a law was enacted on the 21st to completely ban the import of products produced by forced labor in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
In the future, it is expected that companies exporting products to the United States will be asked for evidence that they are not involved in forced labor, which may affect Japanese companies.
The Uygur Forced Labor Prevention Law, which came into effect on the 21st in the United States, is a law signed by President Byden last December to completely exclude products produced by forced labor in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Is aimed at.
The Biden administration has banned the import of cotton products and tomatoes from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, but with the enforcement of this law, the target will be expanded to all items in principle.
As a result, it is expected that companies exporting products to the United States will be asked for evidence that not only the products but also the raw materials procured are not produced by forced labor.
In January last year, U.S. customs authorities suspended the import of UNIQLO shirts because there was not enough evidence that they were not involved in forced labor, which could affect Japanese companies in the future. I have.
China's countermeasures show a willingness to resign
Regarding this, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, Wang Wenbin, said at a press conference, "The United States enacts and enforces laws based on lies, and sanctioning groups and individuals related to the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is a lie. The United States is breaking the rules of international trade and destroying the stability of the international supply chain. "
He said, "China strongly condemns and strongly opposes, and takes strong measures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies and the people," he said.